Amy Herbig, CEO

Hometown: Wayzata, Minnesota

Alumna of: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Professional Experience: BA Group 2005-Present; Formerly Group Health Credit Union (now Salal Credit Union) 2002-2005, Head of Marketing; Simon Malls Management 2000-2001; Metris Companies 1998-2000, Credit Card Portfolio Marketing Manager

Favorite Marketing Moment: While I've been fortunate to have many great marketing moments thus far in my career, one of my favorite moments was from my early credit union days when my marketing team and I really stepped out of our "credit union marketing comfort zone" and literally brought our CU's brand and logo to life! With that life came a 4-story-tall balloon of our logo walking down the streets of Seattle during the most populated parade of the year with folks lining the sidewalks wearing our logo around their necks on Mardi Gras Beads shouting "Who are you?" or "I'm a member!" or "You guys rock!" There was a lot of strategy and planning that went into everything that encompassed that effort, and to see our credit union grow in numbers due to the overall effort really hit home for me that marketing can do amazing things when you take some risks and believe in your instinct as a marketer...

Lifestyle: Wife to Terrill for 11 years, “bestest mom ever” to Emerson, 8 and Trenton, 4½. I love hosting parties, sharing in all the new adventures my boys are having, a book I can get lost in and as of recently, picking up the piano again.

Favorite Quote: “If you have one eye on yesterday, and one eye on tomorrow, you're going to be cockeyed today.” --Anonymous

Terrill Herbig, President

Hometown: Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Alumnus of: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Professional Experience: BA Group, 2006-Present; US Army Reserve 2002-2010, Tactical Psychological Operations Team Sergeant/Instructor; US Bank Home Mortgage 2002-2006, Home Loan Consultant

Favorite Marketing Moment: I have two favorite moments, my “unofficial” and my “official.” My “unofficial” moment happened while on a mission near Gardez, Afghanistan in 2004. As a PSYOP soldier it was part of our duty to “win the hearts and minds” of the locals. I had recently started carrying bubbles as a way to break the ice with the local children. We came upon a small compound and the children there were a bit apprehensive about us; they did not readily warm up to the heavily armed American soldiers. Once I began blowing bubbles the apprehension almost immediately melted away, replaced by the innate joy that blowing and breaking bubbles brings.

My “official” favorite moment is when I heard a radio spot on the air that I had written and helped direct on a major station in the Seattle market. I was blown away to hear my words on air and I was further blown away that my words helped bring in literally millions of dollars in home loans.

Lifestyle: Husband to Amy for 11 years, cool dad (on a good day) and lame dad (most days) to Emerson, 8, and Trent, 4½. I like to fish, camp and travel. I am also an exceedingly frustrated Gopher and Viking football fan.

Favorite Quote: "The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." --Winston Churchill

Denise Aldrich, Sr. Marketing Specialist

Hometown: Pearl City, Hawaii

Alumna of: Rice University, Houston

Professional Experience: BA Group 2008-Present; US Bank 2003-2005, Customer Service Manager, Operations Specialist; AT&T 2002-2003, Web Specialist; WD Partners 1999-2002, Marketing Assistant; Physix Inc. 1996-1998, Marketing Assistant; Pennzoil 1994-1996, Art Director

Favorite Marketing Moment: One of my favorite projects was rebranding a rapidly growing architecture & engineering firm. We spent a lot of time interviewing the owners, employees and clients, to identify and enumerate the company's culture, unique offerings, and vision of where it was going. From this, a new brand was rolled out, including logo, marketing materials, stationery, exterior signage, interior building graphics and a web site. It was incredibly exciting and satisfying to see the designs come to life. But my proudest marketing moment came a couple years later when I discovered that the company had again doubled in size under the umbrella of brand I had helped develop. I was really proud to see how well we had captured the company's spirit and developed a long lasting brand that had supported them through growth beyond anything we could have imagined at the time.

Lifestyle: Married to an IT geek and mom of two boys, I also provide free design services to a local animal shelter and help with art classes at elementary school. Who has time for anything else?!

Favorite Quote: “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right the first time.” --My Dad

Kyra Friedell, Marketing Assistant

Hometown: Golden Valley, Minnesota

Student at: St. Olaf College, Minnesota

Professional Experience: The BA Group 2011-present, Marketing Assistant; MDA Leadership Consulting, 2011 Summer Intern; Tacoma Tide Sports Club and Seattle Sounders, 2010 Summer Photography and PR Intern

Favorite Marketing Moment: My personal favorite marketing moment is yet to be created, but I think the Old Spice campaign with "I'm on a horse" is pretty brilliant.

Lifestyle: Daughter of Lynn and Roger, sister to Seth and Sippi the dog. Unreasonably obsessed with podcasts like "Risk!" and "Freakonomics." Even more in love with laughing with friends, sports and traveling. 

Favorite Quote: "You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take." --Wayne Gretzky

Buddy, Office Dog

Hometown: Vashon Island, Washington

Alumnus of: Home Schooled

Professional Experience: The BA Group 2005-Present

Favorite Marketing Moment: I have a very pathetic look I give to my family when I want something like a treat or piece of steak. I kind of droop my eyes and ears so I look real sad and lonely and then I raise one paw up as if to shake their paw. I think it makes my family feel guilty or something because it really works. One time I gave that look to my mom and I got a treat and I then did it to my dad and he gave me half a steak! Best day ever. 

Lifestyle:  Best friend to Emerson and Trenton. I like to chew on bones, sleep in mom and dad's bed and pee in the neighbors yard. I also have to put up with two cats in my house, although the girl cat says it's her house. Whatever.

Favorite Quote: "Who's a good boy? You are. You are." --My Family